Legal Services Ombudsman
Encyclopedia
In England and Wales
, the Legal Services Ombudsman was a statutory
officer that investigated allegations about the improper, ineffective or inefficient way that complaints about lawyer
s are handled by their respective self-regulating professional bodies. The Ombudsman is appointed by, and is answerable to, the Lord Chancellor
and Secretary of State for Justice. It has been abolished under the Legal Services Act 2007
The first Ombudsman was appointed to start work on 2 January 1991. During the first decade of operation, the office undertook 10,531 investigations:
Around 60% of the firms of solicitors in England and Wales and around 8% of practising barristers were subject of a complaint to the Ombudsman in that time.
There was also a power to re-investigate the original complaint but this is only used in exceptional circumstances.
the Office of the Legal Services Ombudsman was abolished. It has been replaced by the Office for Legal Complaints. This body goes by the public name Legal Ombudsman.
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
, the Legal Services Ombudsman was a statutory
Statute
A statute is a formal written enactment of a legislative authority that governs a state, city, or county. Typically, statutes command or prohibit something, or declare policy. The word is often used to distinguish law made by legislative bodies from case law, decided by courts, and regulations...
officer that investigated allegations about the improper, ineffective or inefficient way that complaints about lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
s are handled by their respective self-regulating professional bodies. The Ombudsman is appointed by, and is answerable to, the Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
and Secretary of State for Justice. It has been abolished under the Legal Services Act 2007
Legal Services Act 2007
The Legal Services Act 2007 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that seeks to liberalise and regulate the market for legal services in England and Wales, to encourage more competition and to provide a new route for consumer complaints...
The first Ombudsman was appointed to start work on 2 January 1991. During the first decade of operation, the office undertook 10,531 investigations:
- 9,456 complaints about solicitorSolicitorSolicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
s; - 1,036 complaints about barristerBarristerA barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
s; and - 39 complaints about licensed conveyancerLicensed ConveyancerA Licensed Conveyancer is a specialist legal professional in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia or South Africa who has been trained to deal with all aspects of property law.Typically, their tasks might include:...
s.
Around 60% of the firms of solicitors in England and Wales and around 8% of practising barristers were subject of a complaint to the Ombudsman in that time.
Powers
The Ombudsman could:- Recommend that the professional body re-investigate a complaint;
- Order the re-investigation;
- Formally criticise the professional body;
- Award compensation for distress or inconvenience.
There was also a power to re-investigate the original complaint but this is only used in exceptional circumstances.
Reform
With the passing of The Legal Services Act 2007Legal Services Act 2007
The Legal Services Act 2007 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that seeks to liberalise and regulate the market for legal services in England and Wales, to encourage more competition and to provide a new route for consumer complaints...
the Office of the Legal Services Ombudsman was abolished. It has been replaced by the Office for Legal Complaints. This body goes by the public name Legal Ombudsman.